Coupling for traction-engines.



M. R. GOWELL.

COUPLING FDR TRACTION ENGINES.

APPLIGATION IILED HAR.21, 191a.

mw gaao Patented July M, 1m.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

M. R. GOWELL. COUPLING FOR TRACTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAB 21, 1913.

Patented July M, 191% 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

n W aw TTED STATES PATENT MARCUS RAY COWELL, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

COUPLING FOR TRACTION-ENGINES.

mosses.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARCUS RAY CowELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Couplers .t'or 'lrac tionl h1gines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in coupling devices and more particularly to coupling devices for use on traction engines for the purpose of attaching agricultural implements there to for hauling.

The object of my invention is the provision of a quick detachable coupler which is cheap of construction and capable of withstanding great strain. 2

Broadly speaking my invention comprises a locking member permanently attached to the tractor and adapted to receive and hold in locked position a second member attached to the machine or implement to be drawn. This last mentioned member may be permanently attached to the machine to be drawn it being .understood that duplicates of course will be supplied to the other machines where a plurality of machines are to be connected together.

As showing a specific embodiment of my device reference is made to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention in use to couple a tractor and an agricultural machine; Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan showing the coupler detached; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the part attached to the machine; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the other part; Fig. 4* is a partial View of the same with the jaws removed showing the opening; ig. 5 is a modified form of Fig. 3 slightly broken away to show the opening; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the other part of the coupler in the modified form; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through the modification; Fig. 8 is a detail section showing the spring receiving recess; and Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the lug broken away.

Throughout the following description like characters denote like parts.

l is a tractor attached to a machine 2 by means of the coupler 3. The coupler 3 comprises two main portions; the locking member 4 and'the cooperative portion 5. The locking member comprises a body portion having formed in one end thereof an eye 6 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July ML, 1914.

Application filed March 21, 1 913. Serial No. 756,058.

and at the other end an opening 7 adapted to receive a lug 8 on the member 5. The lug 8 is substantially T-shaped the head of the T being slightly raised and pointed in the center as at 9. On the upper surface of the member 4 are pivotally secured at 14 looking arms 10 adapted to engage the underside of the head of the T-shaped lug 8. These arms are normally headed in the position shown in Fig. 2 by the spring 11 carried by the lug 12 having fingers l3 adapted to eng g the arms in the slots 13 be yond the pivots 14 from the opening 7. The

end of the member 5 is supplied with an eye 15. Upon the member 4 is secured the stud 1?) bearing pulleys 20 and 21 around which pass the cords 22 and 23 attached to the arms. The cords join above the stud and form a single cord 18.

The operation of the device is simple in the extreme. The members 4 and 5 are attached to the machine and tractor to be drawn respectively, although it will be readily understood that the order might be re versed in any suitable manner without in any way affecting the opcrativeness of the device. The lug on the member 5 is pushed up through the opening in the member 4. The pointed head of the lug forces apart the members 10 but as soon as the shoulder has passed the arms the latter move inwardly by virtue of the spring 13 thus locking the two members together as the lug can not now return through the opening. When it is desired to disconnect the parts 4 and 5 the members 10 may be readily forced apart by the pressure of the thumb and finger or by use of the cord 18 and the lug dropped through.

In the form shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 I provide-on the under side of the forward end of the member 4 a lug 16 adapted to co-act with an opening 17 in the member 5. The use of this form insures a rigid connection within the coupler and thus prevents the rattling prevalent in loose coupling. It has a further tendency to relieve the strain upon the lug 8 which otherwise would carry the entire load.

It will be seen that my device forms a novel and efficient coupler, easily detachable, strong, durable and cheap of construction and one which will supply a long needed want of the agricultu'rist using modern. ma chinery.

While I have shown my coupler as being made of very heavy material in order to engage and open said jaws, and means for withstand great strain, it is of course underholding said jaws normally closed.

stood that the size and quality of the mate In acou ling device, a locking member, rial may be varied according to the weight a cooperative member, the locking member of the load to be pulled, and to suit the difhaving a rectangular opening, a T-shaped ferent uses to which the coupler may be used. lug on said cooperative member having a As many changes could be made in the rectangular head said head being beveled,

above construction and many apparently a' pair of jaws extending over the opening, widely difierent embodiments of my invensaid lug being adapted to engage in the tion, within the scope of the claims conopening, said beveled head on the lug enstructed without departing from the spirit gage and open said jaws, means for holding or scope thereof, it is intended that all matsaid jaws normally closed and a pin formed ter contained in the accompanying specifion the extreme lower part of said locking cation and drawings shall be interpreted as member adapted to cooperate with an openillustrative and not in a limiting sense. ing in said cooperative member.

Having now described my invention what 4. In a coupling device, a locking member,

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pata cooperative member, the locking member ent is: having a rectangular opening, a T-shaped 1. In a coupler and in combination, a pair lug on said cooperative member having a j of co-acting members, eyes formed in said rectangular head, said head being beveled, a members, an opening in one of said mempair of jaws pivoted to said locking member bers adapted to co-act with a lug on the and extending over the opening, said lug be other, a shoulder on said lug and spring ing adapted to engage in the opening, and jaws carried by said member having an open said beveled head on the lug engage and ing, extending thereover and adapted to enopen said jaws, and means for holding said gage the under side of said shoulder and jaws normally closed comprising a spring lock said lug against return through said adapted to engage said jaws beyond the openmg. pivots from said opening and means for 2. In a con lin device alockin member 0 enin said aws.

b a a P o a, cooperative member, the locking member In testimony whereof I atfix my signature having a rectangular opening, a T-shaped in presence of two witnesses.

' lug on cooperative member having ap R rectangular head, said head being beveled, a P of l extending over the opening, -W1tnesses:. 1

said lug being adapted to engage in the 'HENRY P.

opening and said beveled head on the lug ,U. S. J. DUNBAB. 

